FORT MYERS, Fla. — Joe Mauer isn't known for his pull-side power, but that could change this season.
The three-time AL batting champion connected for his first home run of the spring and the Minnesota Twins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1...

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — David Buchanan knows what it feels like to not make Philadelphia's opening-day roster, and he has no plans to repeat last year's experience.
Buchanan allowed two hits in five innings, Cody Asche hit a two-run homer and the...

Clayton Kershaw may edge out Giancarlo Stanton for the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player award next month. If that’s the case, Stanton can take solace in a pretty good consolation prize.
Before Game 4 of the World Series Saturday night in...

MINNEAPOLIS — Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez flew here a day early, so he wasn't a part of the Orioles travel party that arrived in Minnesota around 5 a.m. local time after Thursday's doubleheader in Baltimore.
Jimenez did his part to pick up...

Boston Red Sox left-handed ace Jon Lester was traded to the Oakland A's on Thursday morning as general manager Billy Beane continues his all-in push for a World Series.
But to get Lester, the A's part with All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a 28-year-old who served as the big bat in the middle of Oakland's balanced offense. Minus Cespedes, the A's might be required to make another move to bolster the offense.
A few hours later, FOX Sports 1 reported that the A's had traded left-hander Tommy Milone...

With Josh Beckett sidelined, Dan Haren inconsistent and the bullpen short on dependable late-inning options, General Manager Ned Colletti said he remains in search of pitching as the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline approaches.
Speaking Saturday before the Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres, 1-0, on A.J. Ellis' sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, Colletti intimated he was unlikely to trade for a front-line starter such as David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays or Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies....

The crazy notion pounded as loud as the ball Matt Holliday drove to the base of the center-field fence in the first inning, a shot that gave the St. Louis Cardinals a lead before the Dodgers had even broken a summer Missouri sweat.
The best starting rotation in baseball needs another starting pitcher.
The unlikely idea burst open four innings later, like the home run fireworks exploding through the thick sky, snaking red plumes that draped a colorful canopy over a smiling Holliday and a scowling Dan...

KEY MOMENT: Kevin Jepsen relieved starter Garrett Richards in the eighth inning and gave up a run-scoring single to Kendrys Morales that cut the Angels' lead to 5-2 and put runners on first and third with one out. But Jepsen struck out Oswaldo Arcia with a slider and got Eduardo Escobar, who fouled off two full-count pitches, to ground to first, ending the inning.
AT THE PLATE: Erick Aybar, who is hitting .315 since April 21, sparked a three-run second inning with a double. C.J. Cron singled, Grant...

Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. OAKLAND: Franchise with reputation for polishing young talent is only team that hasn’t used a rookie this season. (1)
2. MILWAUKEE: Marco Estrada has given up 89 hits in 96 innings; not bad. Except 24 of them are home runs. (2)
3. DETROIT: Tigers have two of last three AL Cy Young Award winners, and staff ace Anibal Sanchez (2.64 ERA) isn’t one of them. (5)
4. DODGERS: Have walked two or fewer...